Verizon Wireless today launched the Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program, which allows customers from any wireless carrier to get value from no-longer-used wireless devices and help the environment at the same time. Here is how to participate in the Verizon Wireless Trade-in Program:

Customers who participate in the Trade-In Program will submit their devices for appraisal online at http://www.trade-in.vzw.com and receive a postage-paid envelope to mail in the devices. In exchange for trading in their devices, customers may receive a Verizon Wireless gift card by mail. The amount of the gift card will be based on the make, model and condition of the device and can be used toward the purchase of phones and accessories or to pay Verizon Wireless bills. Devices that have no appraised value can still be sent in for recycling.

Individuals can also donate their no-longer-used cell phones to the long-running HopeLine from Verizon program, which collects devices and accessories to benefit victims of domestic violence. The used phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled.

Since the October 2001 launch of the HopeLine cell phone recycling program, HopeLine from Verizon has collected more than 7 million phones, distributed more than 90,000 phones with free wireless service to victims of domestic violence, and awarded cash grants of more than $7.9 million to organizations working to prevent domestic violence. HopeLine from Verizon has properly disposed of nearly 1.6 million no-longer-used wireless phones and kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.